We've had several articles and threads recently dealing with many problems and challenges that nurses are facing today. We get so caught up in caring for others that many times we forget about taking care of ourselves. So many issues nurses face on a daily basis can lead to emotional and physical burnout, job dissatisfaction, anxiety, illness, and more, unless we learn how to cope with the stresses that won't go away. Although the root of many of these challenges seem unsurmountable, there are things that can be done for how we react under the stresses many of you are experiencing.
This got me to thinking…...what can we do about this? I know many of you come here to vent about the challenges you are facing. And that is good. But how can allnurses be more supportive to you than just offering a sounding board?
I'd like to know: What is your biggest personal challenge as a nurse or nursing student? What's keeping you from enjoying your job or your preparations to be a nurse? What is taking the joy out of your life?
I'm really curious and I want to know. In order to help, we need to know more about those stresses you are facing at work or in school. So please take a few minutes to answer some questions.
Your feedback by participating in this short survey will be instrumental in helping us as we develop things that we hope will help you with your challenges....before you reach the state of burnout. This is your chance to have an impact on our plans for future developments and offerings through allnurses.
To express our appreciation for you taking time to answer a few questions, we will be having a random drawing of (4) $50 gift cards to those who complete the questionnaire.
I look forward to hearing from you!
After taking the survey, please feel free to share your feedback in this thread. Go ahead and vent. Sometimes talking about it is very therapeutic.
I realize that AN has a viable job board, but perhaps something a little more personal, member-wise. A member to member 'referral' service where job leads can be 'anonymously' posted. For example, a nurse knows that her hospital just posted three openings in the ICU yesterday in XX City, in YY state. So this nurse comes to AN and posts in a special forum, about the three openings, without having to give away their real identity or their AN screen identity. Every 30 days, this informal job board would be automatically purged. This would not be meant to circumvent AN's job service, just provide a little more help to those who need it. There is more unemployment in the nursing community than a lot of us would like to admit and this might put a tiny dent in it. Just an idea.
I got a job lead from someone on these boards a few years ago. It got me to where I am today so I like this idea.
Specializes in Post Acute, Med/Surg, ED, Nurse Manager.
I am a CNA and a Nursing Student. At work I am getting burnt out by the lack of staffing. We are short for CNAs and Nurses on all shifts right now. Having sections that are 1.5 times as big as normal for more than a month is taxing. Plus i have been called for every shift for that last 5 days. I hate saying no, but a girls gotta sleep. Lol I am looking forward to nursing college starting again soon it will be a nice break!
As a student nurse... Being nervous when meeting a new patient - I know it will wear off in time. Feeling like I am in the way of other nurses and therefore preventing them from doing their job - I'm know I'm really not, but when you get the ones who have no interest in teaching, it can feel that way. Not feeling encouraged or listened to by certain instructors - please be patient, listen to what I'm saying, and be excited for/with me when I'm excited about getting to be a nurse.
Specializes in Med/Surg, OR, Peds, Patient Education.
As a student nurse... Being nervous when meeting a new patient - I know it will wear off in time. Feeling like I am in the way of other nurses and therefore preventing them from doing their job - I'm know I'm really not, but when you get the ones who have no interest in teaching, it can feel that way. Not feeling encouraged or listened to by certain instructors - please be patient, listen to what I'm saying, and be excited for/with me when I'm excited about getting to be a nurse.
You have a great background as a CNA, so you are ahead of many nursing students. If you can, find a mentor among the "seasoned" nurses on one of the units. Granted, this can be difficult, due to the dangerously low staffing at so many hospitals, but look around, and perhaps there is someone to take you "under his/her wing."
Remember, not all instructors should be instructors, some are bored with their positions, there are teachers in public school, full professors and adjunct instructors who fit that category, too. However, there are some who value what they do. Perhaps there is one who stands out as loving to teach, they are out there, and do not be afraid to ask for some additional support.
You seem determined, and that is half the battle. I know that you will make an excellent nurse, but be patient with yourself, you will never know everything, but you will learn something new each day of your life, even after you pass those boards.
Getting to eat lunch. That would be my biggest challenge!! lol- j/k (partly).
Biggest challenge has been being understaffed and trying to provide good/safe care to my patients. Also, RN's are increasingly expected to take on more and more responsibilities without extra compensation. No wonder nurses are burning out left and right!
Specializes in Emergency Room, Hospice/Palliative Care.
I too answered the survey. My biggest challenge was being in fear of my nursing license every day I worked as an ER nurse. Coming in mid-shift, only to have a full 4 patent load after 20-30 minutes was hard. I was always so worried I would miss something, forget to check orders, or have a patient crash while I was attending another patient. Then, after getting a "lunch break" after only being at work for 4 hours, my brain was so starved for glucose at shift change, I would be completely useless towards the end of the night (and the busiest time). The night shift never gave me a break because those nurses needed their "lunch" breaks first. By 1130 pm I felt starved and defeated. There has to be a better way. Mid shift is THE worst shift ever.
One easy answer. Not getting my work done on time. Meds passed in 2 hour window, dressings changed, charting done, labs taken care of... My work is really cracking down on getting out on time. For 3-11, we are expected to leave at 11:30 unless we had an admission. It's just not feasible. Especially being do new here. It can take 10 minutes just trying to figure out how to enter one new order in the EMR. Not simple ones, but IV ones, TPN.... Tracking another nurse down for them to show me how to do something takes up time too. Something as simple as finding IV tubing to hang ABT that is due took me 15 minutes the other day. Ughhhh I hate being new to a job.
The most challenging issues... for me it's to combine studies at nursing school and job. Both is pretty stressful and energy consuming. Also, some facts that I learned a bit too late. For example, very little if not to say zero chance to get a job at a good hospital in Boston area without previous experience there. I know few nurses with RN-BSN degree who can't find hospital job due to the lack of such experience.
Another thing - job related stress and frustration. Long working hours, difficulty in balancing personal life, work and studies. Though I guess almost everybody has similar problems when working in healthcare field.
Overcoming my own depression, and past failures. my cumulative GPA was 3.28 last semester its about the same after earning two Bs last semester. I am in a good position to get an A in a prerequisite, but it will only bring my GPA up to about 3.3/3.4. After hearing how crazy competitive nursing school can be I am beginning to wonder if I am cut out for this. I am dedicated, and I love school. It just seems like it might not be meant to be. Getting up to the 3.5 range is feasible before I apply getting up to that 3.75 range would take years, and tuition I simply cannot afford to waste. I have yet to take the tease test. I am not giving up though I intend to pursue this until I have exhausted every option in the state! Keeping my mouth shut, and not telling every one how excited I am to pursue nursing. ITS ALL I THINK AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME! That, and my classes which I absolutely love.
I struggle with the fact that I got into nursing because I like to take care of people. And because of ridiculous rules and HCAPS and nurse patient ratio that is almost impossible. My first year as a nurse was spend with me suffering from UTI's dt not drinking enough water and not going to the bathroom as often as I needed, nightmares, social isolation, and pain all over my body dt stress from work and being sick most of the time. Now I am in the process of finding another job. And I struggle with going back to the hospital and killing myself for another year just to get enough experience to get something else. Or, try to get into a small practice with less stress even if that means no advancement in the future and less money. So, there is my struggle right now. I am 38 so I my time for advancement is limited. Thank god for my supporting husband. :)
Pretty sure that is not actually a way you get a UTI alone. Without the introduction of bacteria in some other way.
The conflict of my career; I love my job, except when I don't. I work LTC because that is where I want to be, but it is very frustrating knowing that in my area if I was willing to leave and go to a hospital position I would make at least 9 or 10 dollars an hour more. I don't want to leave my job, really. I also don't want to continue working for peanuts with a company that doesn't give raises. Add to this I've been there so long that starting over somewhere new not only terrifies me but the idea of starting at the bottom of the seniority ladder and losing the years of vacation time I have built up makes it just not quite worth leaving yet.
That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B
3,421 Posts
I got a job lead from someone on these boards a few years ago. It got me to where I am today so I like this idea.